Fruit-gatherer.



UNITED STATES Patented March 28, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. OHRITTON, OF ROOKYFORD, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- THIRDS TO CHARLES L. HUSHAW AND JOSE E. OHRITTON, OF

ROCKYFORD, COLORADO.

FRUlT-GATHERER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 786,002, dated March 28, 1905 Application filed August 10, 1904. Serial No. 220,249.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES M. CHRITTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rockyford, in the county of Otero and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Fruit- Gatherer, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved fruitpicker, and has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient device of this character by means of which cherries, plums, and other fruit may be quickly and conveniently detached from the tree and deposited in a suitable receptacle without bruising or otherwise injuring the fruit.

A further object of the invention is to form the receiver of a single piece of metal bent to form a pair of spring-jaws, to the ends of which are secured the shears or clippers, so that by pressing inwardly on said jaws the shears or clippers will operate to detach the fruit and cause the same to fall into a bag or other suitable receptacle carried by the receiver.

A still further object is to secure the fruitcontaining bag or receptacle in position on the receiver by the expansion or spring action of the latter.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fruit-picker constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In constructing the fruit-picker I form the supporting-frame or receiver 5 of a single piece of spring metal or other suitable material bent into substantially cylindrical shape, as shown, so as to form a pair of compressible spring-jaws 6 and 7. The ends of the jaws 6 and 7 are bent laterally to form inwardly-extending overlapping flanges S, and riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to said flanges are the cutting-blades 9 of a pair of clippers or shears designed to detach or sever the fruit from the tree when the spring-jaws are compressed. The overlapping flanges 8 are pivoted together at the lower end of the receiver by a single rivet or similar fastening device 10, said rivet also serving as the pivotal connection for the blades 9 of the clippers or shears. By having the overlapping flanges and cutting-blades pivoted in the manner described the spring action of the jaws 6 and 7 will tend to force the blades apart, so that by pressing inwardly on said jaws the clippers will operate to detach the fruit and cause the latter to be deposited in a bag or other suitable receptacle 11, designed to receive the same.

The bag or fruit-containing receptacle 11, which is preferably formed of canvas, rubber, or other flexible material, is fastened to the receiver by a wire 12, threaded through the top of the bag and engaging an annular flange l3, projecting laterally from the bottom of the receiver, as shown, said bag being retained in position on the receiver by the spring action or expansion of the jaws 6 and 7, which firmly grip the wire 12 and prevent the bag from slippinglongitudinally on said receiver.

In some cases I have found it desirable to employ an auxiliary spring 14: to assist in returning the jaws 6 7 to their normal position after being compressed, said spring being riveted or otherwise secured to the receiver near the top thereof, as clearly shownin Fig. l of the drawings.

In operation the receiver is grasped in the hand and the stem of the fruit introduced between the cutting-blades of the shears or clippers. The spring jaws 6 and 7 are then pressed inwardly between the thumb and fingers, thereby causing the clippers to sever the stem of the fruit and permit the latter to drop by gravity into the bag or receptacle.

In Fig. i I have shown a modified form of the invention in which the receiver and shears are formed integral, the blades of the shears being bent rearwardly over the mouth of the receiver, as indicated at 15.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided an exceedingly simple and inexpensive fruit-picker in which the shears or clippers are operated by simply compressing the side walls of the receiver, thereby dispensing with springs, levers, and other auxiliary operating devices.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed is- 1. In a device of the class described, a split receiver having its adjacent edges bent to form laterally-extending flanges, and cutting-blades carried by said flanges.

2. In a device of the class described, a split receiver provided with inwardly-extending flanges, cutting-blades secured to said flanges and a spring secured to the receiver and encircling thesame.

3. In a device of the class described, asplit receiver provided with inwardly-extending flanges, cutting-blades secured thereto, and a pin or rivet passing through said flanges at the bottom of the receiver and engaging the cutting-blades.

4. In a device of the class described, asplit receiver formed of a single piece of spring metal the opposite ends of which are bent to form laterally-extending flanges, verticallydisposed cutting-blades secured to said flanges, and a pin passing through said flanges and cutting-blades and forming a pivotal connection for both.

5. In a device of the class described a split receiver havingits adjacent longitudinal edges bent inwardly and provided with cuttingblades.

6. In a device of the class described a split receiver provided with a laterally-projecting flange and having its adjacent longitudinal edges bent inwardly and provided with cutting-blades, and a fruit-containing receptacle engaging the annular flange of the receiver.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afliXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES M. OHRIITON.

WVitnesses:

WM. C. STEELE, W. J. YOUNG. 

